Royal Reserve Canadian Rye Whisky (40% alc./vol.)

Royal Reserve was a major Corby brand when the distillery was still located on the banks of the Moira River in Corbyville, Ontario. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s Corby’s promoted it as light and smooth with a hint of woody character. Value pricing may have contributed to strong sales back then, but today’s plastic bottle certainly does nothing positive for the whisky’s image. As someone once said, “I want to know who invented plastic whisky bottles, and where they were hanged.”

Since Corby’s has moved production to Walkerville, Royal Reserve has fallen into the shadows somewhat, so the whisky now waits as a pleasant surprise for the rye drinker in search of a crisp mixing whisky.

Cocktails are cool again and Royal Reserve is a typical old-time Canadian whisky from the cocktail’s hey-day. It’s mixing whisky, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s without substance. Where punch and power define so many of today’s sipping whiskies, Royal Reserve stays clearly in the camp of subtle elegance. When light and smooth defined the best whiskies, Corby’s put enormous energy into making theirs the lightest and the smoothest without sacrificing complexity of flavour. Happily, the team in Walkerville continues this tradition.

Nose: A rich and somewhat complex nose emerges slowly from an almost silent start. First to appear is dusty rye with faint cloves, ginger and cinnamon in tow. Toffee soon follows then a contrasting inkling of pickles. This is a ’70s Canadian rye whisky nose to be sure: tightly integrated with slowly growing intensity, though it never really becomes overly expressive. Rather, it’s all about subtlety, nuance and balance. The scent of walnuts adds a new dimension as do whiffs of pine needles and a vague suggestion of bicycle tires, but really this is all about mild but assertive hard rye.

Palate: Starts out quite light and sweet and almost watery, with burnt sugar right off the bat then sweet toffee and a hint of ripe fruit. The slight bitterness of rye grain, hints of dry oak, and the feel of French’s® mustard complement a mouth-coating creaminess. Hot pepper and sweet rye spices dominate, but not enough to hide a vague and ever-present hint of brittle rye along with some zingy lemon zest.

Tim n – I totally understand your desire for the Bulleit 95 as it’s one of my absolute favs. But of course hard to come by. And I agree with Davin – the Rittenhouse 100 is a steal for the price – and makes an outstandingly punchy Manhattan to boot!

Without question my favorite. I only buy it in the glass bottles-$20 bucks a 26er. Bought it all the time when I lived in Ontario and have continued to do so in Alberta. I kind like the old school mystique that seems to have grown around it over the years as well.

I love this whiskey,and the fact that it has awesome stickers on it, I have a old guitar that i bought for really cheap because it was really beat up, but some money into it and coverd it in R&R stickers and i love it.

Sorry but old Canadian whisky does not go up in value very much. It is worth $30.00, maybe $40 at most. I have several of these old R&Rs and I just open and drink them. There is no collectors’ market for them at all. NO, it is NOT possible.

I grew up in Corbyville, my first job was at the Corby distillery before the original facility was closed and production moved to Windsor. I expect a lot of the older residents still miss the pleasant roasted grain smell that would permeate the town on cooking days. A lot of care and pride went into the production of RR, it was a real shame to see it leave the town that spawned it. To their credit the quality and taste has remained consistent, objectively it is a fine rye whiskey notwithstanding the nostalgia I have for the brand.

Sweet, peppery and hot with dusty old wood, citrus zest, and burnt toffee that ends with a refreshing grapefruit pithiness. It’s a bit spirity which is why it works so well in cocktails and highballs. ★★★

Plums, prunes, black currents balanced with sweet butter tarts and baking spices and the warming glow of real black pepper. Silky mouthfeel with hints of oak but not the woodiness of long-aged whisky. ★★★★★

A typical fruity, rye-forward Canadian Club nose becomes sweet, hot, and spicy on the tongue. The most whisky like of the spiced whiskies with added notes of black licorice, Mom’s baking vanilla and a touch of clean oak.

Scotch snobs who rely on age statements to tell them if they like what they are drinking take note: Coyote Ugly is one three-year-old shooting whisky that is simply loaded with flavour. Loaded! Recommended. ★★★☆

Hot, and sweet with dark fruits, creamy cereals, hints of pansies. Burley tobacco takes it into the lower registers as do hints of oak. A bright, lively, potent, but not overly complex whisky, with a sweet and fruity finish.★★★★☆

Canvas and burlap with heavy fall flowers and dry brown hay. The palate begins with burnt caramel, searing spices and ripe orchard fruits and ends in a long juicy finish with a slight bitterness that integrates IPA hops and citrus pith. ★★★★☆